Falling in the Dunlop chicane on the Bugatti track is not an extraordinary thing when you're competing at Le Mans. But giving up every chance from the warm-up lap, just before the start, is quite rare. However, this is what happened to Karel Abraham and Joan mir which fell separately but practically simultaneously. Enough to be frustrated, even mad with rage in the case of Joan Mir who, during this meeting found himself on the ground more often than not...
Both men were surprised during the warm-up lap. Abraham hit the ground first and his sinking motorcycle almost took Johann zarco. Mir made an identical mistake moments later.
« On the warm-up lap, I went straight and fell. I think behind me, Joan Mir also fell. It's all been very strange “, said the Avintia pilot. “ Now my back and head hurt from the fall. I'm disappointed and really upset because I knew we could get some points in this race. Instead, we leave with a big zero again ».
Abraham had tried to start the race on his second bike, but was black flagged for exiting the pit lane after the leader had crossed the finish line at the end of the first lap.
Mir at least returned in time to finish the race with his spare Suzuki, but finished his race one lap down in 16th and final position. “ What happened on the warm-up lap was a shame » declared the rookie. “ I think the tire was cold, I didn't brake too hard or too early, but I lost the front ».
« I fell four times this weekend and we have to ask ourselves why this happened. I don't think I over-attacked at any point, but when I can understand why I fell, I learn something. I'm looking forward to the Italian Grand Prix ».
Weird scenes! 😱@Joanmir36 and @Karel_Abraham17 are down on the warm-up lap!#FrenchGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/PsbTAy230H
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 19, 2019
French Grand Prix Le Mans MotoGP J3: classification
| 1 | 93 | Marc MÁRQUEZ | Honda | 41'53.647 |
| 2 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | +1.984 |
| 3 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | +2.142 |
| 4 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati | +2.940 |
| 5 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | +3.053 |
| 6 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARÓ | KTM | +5.935 |
| 7 | 21 | Frank MORBIDELLI | Yamaha | +7.187 |
| 8 | 20 | Fabio QUARTARARO | Yamaha | +8.439 |
| 9 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | +9.853 |
| 10 | 42 | Alex RINS | Suzuki | +13.709 |
| 11 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Honda | +15.003 |
| 12 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARÓ | Aprilia | +29.512 |
| 13 | 5 | johann zarco | KTM | +33.061 |
| 14 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | KTM | +35.481 |
| 15 | 88 | Miguel OLIVEIRA | KTM | +36.044 |
| 16 | 36 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | 1 laps |
| Not Classified | ||||
| 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 9 lapses | |
| 29 | Andrea Iannone | Aprilia | 19 lapses | |
| 12 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 21 lapses | |
| 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 21 lapses | |
| 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 25 lapses | |
| Excluded | ||||
| 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 0 laps |
